### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ῥύσις (rhýsis, `{{G4511}}`) is derived from the verb ῥύομαι (rhyomai), but specifically in the sense of its congener ῥέω (rheō), which means "to flow." Thus, the core meaning of ῥύσις is "a flow" or "a flux." In ancient Greek medical contexts, it frequently referred to a bodily discharge. In its New Testament usage, as indicated by the base definition, its semantic range is narrowly confined to "a flux (of blood)," denoting a continuous or persistent hemorrhage. It implies an ongoing, debilitating discharge rather than a temporary or incidental one.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ῥύσις (rhýsis, `{{G4511}}`) appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Synoptic Gospels, precisely describing the condition of the woman with the "issue of blood":
* [[Mark 5:25]]: "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years..."
* [[Luke 8:43]]: "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any..."
In both instances, ῥύσις unequivocally refers to a chronic, severe hemorrhage that had afflicted the woman for twelve years. This condition was not only physically debilitating, leading to financial ruin due to constant medical expenses, but also profoundly isolating. Under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 15:19-30), any woman with an abnormal or prolonged flow of blood (a "zavah") was considered ritually unclean. This impurity extended to anything she touched or sat upon, and anyone who touched her or those items would also become unclean. Consequently, the woman suffered not only from her physical ailment but also from social ostracization and spiritual separation from the community and temple worship. The narratives emphasize the duration of her suffering and the futility of human efforts to cure her, setting the stage for Jesus' miraculous intervention.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **ῥέω (rheō):** The root verb meaning "to flow," directly informing the core meaning of ῥύσις. This connection highlights the continuous nature of the woman's discharge.
* **καθαρίζω (katharizō) / καθαρισμός (katharismos):** "To cleanse" / "cleansing." The woman's condition rendered her ritually impure. Jesus' healing act, by stopping the ῥύσις, effectively brought about her ritual purification, a crucial aspect of the miracle in a Jewish context.
* **δύναμις (dynamis):** "Power, ability." The healing power that flowed from Jesus to the woman is often described using this term, contrasting with the debilitating flow of blood.
* **πίστις (pistis):** "Faith." Both Mark and Luke emphasize that it was the woman's faith that "made her well" ([[Mark 5:34]], [[Luke 8:48]]), serving as the conduit for Jesus' healing power.
* **Torahic Purity Laws:** Specifically, the regulations found in Leviticus 15 concerning bodily discharges. The "issue of blood" directly implicates these laws, defining her as ritually unclean and an outcast.
### Theological Significance
The healing of the woman with the ῥύσις holds profound theological significance:
* **Divine Authority over Impurity:** Jesus' power to stop the chronic flow of blood demonstrates His sovereignty not only over physical disease but also over ritual impurity. Unlike others who would become defiled by touching an unclean person, Jesus' power flowed *into* the woman, cleansing her and making her whole. This act dramatically reverses the conventional understanding of purity, showing that Jesus is the source of purity, not susceptible to defilement.
* **The Power of Faith:** Jesus explicitly attributes the woman's healing to her faith. This highlights that while the power resided in Him, her desperate, active, and persistent faith was the necessary catalyst for receiving that power. It underscores the active role of human faith in receiving divine grace.
* **Compassion for the Marginalized:** The woman's condition rendered her an outcast, isolated from society and religious life. Jesus' public acknowledgment and compassionate healing of her brought her out of the shadows and restored her dignity and place within the community. This exemplifies Jesus' consistent ministry to the marginalized and suffering.
* **Holistic Salvation:** The miracle was not merely a physical cure. It encompassed physical restoration (cessation of the ῥύσις), social reintegration (no longer an outcast), and spiritual peace ("Go in peace," [[Mark 5:34]], [[Luke 8:48]]). It represents a complete, holistic healing that addresses all dimensions of human suffering.
* **New Covenant Purity:** This miracle points towards a new understanding of purity in the New Covenant, where ritual defilement is overcome by the transformative power of Christ, and physical touch can convey grace and healing rather than impurity.
### Summary
The Greek word ῥύσις (rhýsis, `{{G4511}}`) precisely denotes a "flux" or "issue," specifically a chronic flow of blood, as seen in its two New Testament occurrences in [[Mark 5:25]] and [[Luke 8:43]]. It describes the debilitating, prolonged hemorrhage suffered by the woman for twelve years, a condition that rendered her not only physically ill but also ritually unclean and socially ostracized under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 15). The theological significance of Jesus' healing of this woman is immense, showcasing His divine authority over impurity, the transformative power of active faith, His profound compassion for the marginalized, and the holistic nature of His salvation, which encompasses physical restoration, social reintegration, and spiritual peace. The cessation of the ῥύσις by Jesus' touch and power signifies a profound act of purification and a radical redefinition of purity in the presence of the Messiah.
TRV